WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 04: U.S. President Donald Trump addresses a joint session of Congress at the U.S. Capitol on March 04, 2025 in Washington, DC(Image: Getty Images)

Donald Trump doubles tariffs on Canada and and repeats calls for it to become 'our cherished 51st State'

by · Irish Mirror

Donald Trump has escalated his warning to Canada, threatening to double tariffs and blur the lines between the two countries' borders.

The US President reiterated his threat to Canada's sovereignty in a post on his Truth Social platform, urging Canada to scrap what he labelled an "anti-American farmer tariff" and repeating the idea of Canada becoming the 51st US state to resolve the issue.

However, Ontario Premier Doug Ford swiftly countered the President, accusing Mr Trump of instigating an unprovoked trade war with a neighbouring country, reports the Mirror.

Mr Trump wrote: "Based on Ontario, Canada, placing a 25 per cent Tariff on "Electricity" coming into the United States, I have instructed my Secretary of Commerce to add an ADDITIONAL 25 per cent Tariff, to 50 per cent, on all STEEL and ALUMINUM COMING INTO THE UNITED STATES FROM CANADA, ONE OF THE HIGHEST TARIFFING NATIONS ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD.

"This will go into effect TOMORROW MORNING, March 12th. Also, Canada must immediately drop their Anti-American Farmer Tariff of 250 per cent to 390 per cent on various U.S. dairy products, which has long been considered outrageous. I will shortly be declaring a National Emergency on Electricity within the threatened area. This will allow the U.S to quickly do what has to be done to alleviate this abusive threat from Canada.

Shipping containers are stacked high at the Port of Long Beach on March 4, 2025 in Long Beach, California, as US President Donald Trump's tariffs on Canada and Mexico take effect(Image: AFP via Getty Images)

"If other egregious, long time Tariffs are not likewise dropped by Canada, I will substantially increase, on April 2nd, the Tariffs on Cars coming into the U.S. which will, essentially, permanently shut down the automobile manufacturing business in Canada.

"Those cars can easily be made in the USA! Also, Canada pays very little for National Security, relying on the United States for military protection. We are subsidizing Canada to the tune of more than 200 Billion Dollars a year. WHY? ? ? This cannot continue. The only thing that makes sense is for Canada to become our cherished Fifty First State.

"This would make all Tariffs, and everything else, totally disappear. Canadians' taxes will be very substantially reduced, they will be more secure, militarily and otherwise, than ever before, there would no longer be a Northern Border problem, and the greatest and most powerful nation in the World will be bigger, better and stronger than ever - And Canada will be a big part of that.

"The artificial line of separation drawn many years ago will finally disappear, and we will have the safest and most beautiful Nation anywhere in the World - And your brilliant anthem, "O Canada," will continue to play, but now representing a GREAT and POWERFUL STATE within the greatest Nation that the World has ever seen!"

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 07: U.S. President Donald Trump delivers remarks on the jobs report from the Oval Office at the White House on March 07, 2025 in Washington, DC(Image: Getty Images)

Ontario's Premier Mr Ford responded strongly, making it clear that Canada isn't about to bow down in the trade spat. He shot back on X: "President Trump launched an unprovoked trade and tariff war with America's closest friend and ally. Until the threat of tariffs is gone for good, we won't back down."

Despite ongoing threats from Mr Trump to impose tariffs on Canada and Mexico, which he argues will curb the entry of fentanyl into the US, Canadian leaders are standing firm. Trump has also expressed a desire to apply tariffs to several allies as a means to rectify trade imbalances and halt what he believes is America being "ripped off".

There's been a hefty backlash from Canadian authorities over Mr Trump's proposed tariffs, which could have a catastrophic impact on the Canadian economy. It's no small matter, considering a whopping 76.8 per cent of Canada's international exports went to the US in 2022, data from World Integrated Trade Solution shows.

Numerous Canadian politicians have spoken out against any hints that Canada would fold into the US infrastructure. Designated Prime Minister Mark Carney said that Canada "will never, ever be part of America".

Canada's outgoing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks during a news conference about the US tariffs against Canada on March 4, 2025 on Parliament Hill in Ottawa(Image: AFP via Getty Images)

The Conservative Party's Pierre Poilievre didn't mince his words either, slamming Mr Trump after last month's announced tariffs. In a rebuff to the Republican proposal, he declared: "We will never be the 51st state."

Even the outgoing Canadian PM Justin Trudeau pulled no punches, dubbing Mr Trump's tariffs as "dumb".

Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.